Liverpool beat Leipzig to maintain Slot’s good start

Darwin Nunez’s 27th-minute tap-in gave Liverpool a 1-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig on Wednesday, continuing their good start under new coach Arne Slot. Mohamed Salah’s stunning header across his body interrupted Leipzig’s early pressure before halftime.

Nunez surged forward to score his first Champions League goal since February 2023. Even after Leipzig’s late surge, Liverpool displayed the control and resilience that has propelled them to the top of the Premier League just days before Sunday’s match at Arsenal. We’re thrilled to win. Our away game was tough. The game was mostly under our control until the final minutes “Slot.

Darwin handed us one, but Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah helped set it up. Team goal. Darwin did well today, which is encouraging.” Slot has Liverpool’s best start ever, winning 11 of his first 12 games in all competitions, while Leipzig is 0–3 in Europe this season. “With a bit of luck, maybe we could have taken a point,” Leipzig goaltender Peter Gulacsi said. “We’ve had no luck in the Champions League.”

Both teams have great defensive records this season, with Liverpool conceding three in eight Premier League games and Leipzig two in seven. Slot substituted Kostas Tsimikas and Alexis Mac Allister for Andy Robertson and Curtis Jones, and Nunez for Diogo Jota in the 2-1 home win over Chelsea on Sunday.

Leipzig’s starting lineup of Lois Openda, Xavi Simons, Benjamin Sesko, and Antonio Nusa showed Marco Rose’s aim. Rose’s strategy worked early, as Leipzig pressured and counterattacked Liverpool. After 19 minutes, Sesko capitalised on Caoimhin Kelleher’s rush out of his box and failed to clear, but his long-range shot hit the post.

On 26 minutes, Openda scored from outside the area, but it was offside. Liverpool scored immediately when Nunez headed in a Salah header, his second goal in nine games this season. Nunez nearly doubled before Gulacsi saved his point-blank header.

Liverpool was focused on Sunday’s meeting at Arsenal and tried to control the second half to keep Leipzig at bay. Salah was angry to be substituted with 30 minutes left, but Slot definitely had Arsenal in mind. Liverpool won three from three in the Champions League after Openda had another goal disallowed for offside.